Collection of the Old Russian painting of the Russian Museum is one of the largest and most significant in Russia. It includes around six thousand icons. The permanent exhibition housed in the first four halls of Mikhailovsky Palace represents a part of this collection, the most valuable works of XII-XVII centuries created in the major art centers of Old Russia: Novgorod, Pskov, Vladimir, Suzdal, Moscow, and Yaroslavl.

The exposition of Russian art of XVIII century is chronologically organized and presents the main stages and trends of Russian art of this time. One part of the display is dedicated to the time of Peter I and focuses mainly on the names of Ivan Nikitin and Andrei Matveyev, the greatest portraitists and leaders of the secular Russian art of this time. Genre of portrait of the middle and second part of XVIII century is presented by such artists as Ivan Vishyakov, Alexey Antropov, Ivan Argunov, Fyodor Rokotov.

The exhibition shows masterpieces representing the variety of trends in the Russian art of the time (classicism, romantism and beginning in the second third of the XIX century realism). The works by academic school masters are also widely represented: the canvases by Karl Brullov (the famous «The Last Days of Pompeii», religious compositions and portraits of the artist’s contemporaries), historical paintings by Grigory Ugryumov, Alexander Ivanov, Alexey Egorov, Fyodor Bruni.

The collection of the museum comprises works of the representatives of large schools that existed in Soviet times (e.g., Leningrad school of landscape painting of the 1930s - 1950s). The art of socialist realism, showing high artistic merit, clarity of plot, a tendency for "grand style", is reflected in the paintings by A.A. Deyneka, A.N. Samokhvalov, A.A. Plastov, Yu.I. Pimenov and many other Soviet artists who continued to work during the Great Patriotic War and in the second half of the XX century.

The exhibition will present more than 600 works of various types of textile art, painting, graphics, decorative and applied art, and more than 30 costumes, including shawls, headscarves, pashminas, and stoles.

An exhibition on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Karl Marx offers a comprehensive overview of images of the influential thinker in Russian culture and everyday life from the beginning of the 20th century till nowadays.

On 26 May 2005 the Mineral Study in the Stroganov Palace was opened after restoration and recreation of interiors. The study was designed by Andrei Voronikhin in 1791-92. It was considered as one of the masterpieces of Russian architecture of the 18th century.

The exhibition is timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad. The artist witnessed and experienced the siege, one of the most tragic events of the Second World War, firsthand.

Dashi Namdakov's work is closely tied to the national Buryat culture, Mongolian epos and the legends and parables of Buddhism, and distinguished by academic precision, particular expressiveness of character, and accuracy in rendering movement.

The work of Andrei Dubov, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, is associated with the consistent development of key categories of painting: color, composition, and space. Focusing on the images of private life, Dubov renders them in a way which is concise and modest but always refined in its simplicity.

Modern exhibition of the museum comprises items dating back to Peter I’s time, including memorial paraphernalia, such as: red broadcloth uniform, an oriental cane, a model of Peter I’s hand based on an imprint made at Lipetsk foundry in 1707, a wherry, and Peter’s armchair.

The high technology interactive exposition "Our Romantic Emperor" located on three floors of the Western Pavilion of St. Michael's Castle is devoted to Paul I, the author and owner of the ensemble of St. Michael's Castle.

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Collection highlights

The collection of masterpieces, chosen by the Russian Museum will allow you to make a first impression of the collection of the Russian Museum.

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